San Mateo Affordable Housing Ballot Measure

The San Mateo City Council will consider major changes to affordable housing policy at its next meeting on Monday, June 18, 2018. Voter approved Measure P dictates that housing projects of more than 10 units provide 10% BMR units on-site and prohibits in-lieu fees as a means of satisfying the BMR requirement. The City is concerned that this provision does not satisfy the requirement that inclusionary ordinances provide the “alternative means of compliance” that AB 1505 now requires. Given Measure P was adopted by the voters, the City Council is not able to simply amend the City’s inclusionary housing ordinance to address the potential conflict with AB 1505. The features of the City’s inclusionary housing requirement are dictated by the provisions of Measure P, a voter adopted initiative. As such, the City believes that amendments to the provisions of the ordinance may be proposed by the City Council, but must be approved by the voters. The proposed ballot measure would require any housing project of more than 10 units to provide 15% of units be affordable units, and that in lieu fees and other means of compliance be offered. To read the staff report click here.